Muffler



Dec. 1, 1964 P. e. ANDREWS MUFFLER Filed May 11, 1962 INVENTOR. 2 62 676, flflirc'u/ct United States Patent 3,159,239 MUFFLER Peter G. Andrews,Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Walker Manufacturing Company, acorporation of Delaware Filed May 11,1962, Ser. No. 193,927 2 Claims.(1. 181-451) This invention relates generally to sound deadening devicesand particularly concerns improvements in mufflers for internalcombustion engines and the like.

In manufacturing mufiiers for differently shaped and sized vehicleshaving differently shaped and sized exhaust system piping, it isnecessary to construct the end fittings of the mufiler shells so thatthey coincide in size and direction to the exhaust system piping intowhich the mufiler is to be connected. This necessity arises from thefact that the end fittings project into or over the ends of the exhaustsystem piping in a telescoping manner and, therefore, the fittings mustbe axially aligned with the piping as well as being the proper size. Itfollows, therefore, that many variations in the size and direction ofthese end fittings must be provided. On low production mufflers the costof tooling and short-run setups to provide various end fittingalignments can be very high per mufiler and can result in abnormallyhigh mufiler prices.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention toprovide an improved low cost muffier shell and end fitting arrangementwhich reduces the cost of manufacturing mufilers having variable endfitting configurations and sizes.

Another object is to minimize or eliminate the need for alteration ofmuffler manufacturing facilities for the manufacture of mufilers havingdiiferently directed end fittings.

Another object is to provide an improved joint between the open ends ofa muffler shell and the end fittings therefor, which joint can functionas an adaptor for adapting various size mufiler shells to various sizeand directed end fittings.

A further and more specific object is to provide a three-piece mufiiershell construction readily adapted for manufacture for a variety ofsizes and shapes of vehicle exhaust systems.

Further objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description, claims, and drawingswherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a preferred form of thethree-piece mulfler shell; and

FIG. 2 is a right hand end view of the shell of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a mufiler shell generally designatedcomprises a cylindrical body 12 and a pair of tubular end fittings 14and 16. The opposite ends of body portion 12 are given arcuatecurvatures 18 and 20. These are preferably of the same radius ofcurvature, but, may be formed on different radii should such bedesirable. Surfaces 18 and 29 each preferably comprise segments ofhemisphere for a purpose hereinafter described. The body ends areapertured at 22 and 24. The end fittings 14 and 16 are flared at 26 and28, respectively; and the outer portions of these flares are formed witharcuate hemispherical segments 30 and 32 respectively havingcircumferences concentric with arcuate surfaces 18 and 20, respectively.This construction allows fittings 14 and 16 to be respectivelypositioned on the outside of surfaces 18 and 20 either in alignment withor angularly to the longitudinal axis 34 of the mufi'ler body whileforming gas tight seals at the juncture of the surface pairs 18, 30 and20, 32. The angular direction is illustrated by end fitting 16 whoselongitudinal axis 36 is olfset several degrees from axis 34 of the body12.

Patented Dec. 1., 1964 The arcuate end surfaces 18 and 241 of body 12are formed from a straight tube as indicated by the phantom lines 38 and46 in FIG. 1 by rolling or swaging or other suitable metal formingoperation. Similarly, the flared portions 26 and 28, and the arcuatesurfaces 30 and 32 respectively of end fittings 14 and 16 are formedfrom straight tubes 42 and 44 indicated by the phantom lines also byrolling, swaging, or other suitable metal forming operation.

Any suitable internal sound attenuating structure 54 inside of themuffler may be used. Structure in accordance with a copending US.application of R. A. Heath, Serial No. 115,991 and assigned to theassignee hereof is preferable.

End fittings 14 and 16 are secured to body 12 after the proper angulardirection of these fittings with respect to the exhaust system pipinghas been determined and the fittings adjusted on body 12. Thissecurement may be made by various means but is preferably an annularweld along the peripheral edges of the arcuate surfaces of the fittingsas indicated at 45.

It is seen that regardless of the angular position of the end fittingson body 12 the bores or cavities 46 of the fittings thereof are in wideopen communication with the open ends 22 and 24 of the body. Thesurfaces 30 and 32 may be made of larger area than shown to cover moreof surfaces 18 and 2t) respectively to provide better seals and to allowgreater angular offset than is illus trated by fitting 16.

Modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. A mufiler comprising a tubular shell having a hernispherical surfaceformed on each end, a pair of end fittings, one at each end of theshell, each having an arcuate surface of substantially identical radiusof curvature as said hemispherical surfaces and sealingly matingtherewith, said end fittings having bushings formed therein forattachment to inlet and outlet conduits to connect the mufiier in anexhaust gas system, annular welds at the joints between said surfacesand rigidly holding them together, and silencing means inside the shell.

2. A mufiier comprising a tubular shell having a hemispherical surfaceformed on one end, an end fitting at said one end and having an arcuatesurface of substantially identical radius of curvature as saidhemispherical surface and sealingly mating therewith, said end fittinghaving a bushing formed therein for attachment to a conduit to connectthe mufiler in an exhaust gas system, an annular weld at the jointbetween said surfaces and rigidly holding them together, an end fittingat the other end of the shell, and silencing means inside the shell.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,611,475 Maxim Dec. 21, 1926 1,695,375 Heather Dec. 18, 1928 2,020,054Ford Nov. 5, 1935 2,259,516 Deremer Oct. 21, 1941 2,367,753 Buck Jan.23, 1945 2,548,965 Gaugler Apr. 17, 1951 3,002,269 Hopkins Oct. 3, 19613,003,312 Jewell Oct. 10, 1961 3,064,336 Powers et a1. Nov. 20, 19623,080,940 Jobson Mar. 12, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 223,830 Switzerland Jan.4, 1943 619,134 Canada Apr. 25, 1961

2. A MUFFLER COMPRISING A TUBULAR SHELL HAVING A HEMISPHERICAL SURFACEFORMED ON ONE END, AN END FITTING AT SAID ONE END AND HAVING AN ARCUATESURFACE OF SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL RADIUS OF CURVATURE AS SAIDHEMISPHERICAL SURFACE AND SEALINGLY MATING THEREWITH, SAID END FITTINGHAVING A BUSHING FORMED THEREIN FOR ATTACHMENT TO A CONDUIT TO CONNECTTHE MUFFLER IN AN EXHAUST GAS SYSTEM, AN ANNULAR WELD AT THE JOINTBETWEEN SAID SURFACES AND RIGIDLY HOLDING THEM TOGETHER, AN END FITTINGAT THE OTHER END OF THE SHELL, AND SILENCING MEANS INSIDE THE SHELL.